The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has issued a fresh travel warning and provided essential information on the conflict affecting Lebanon which could put British tourists holidaying in the UAE and Dubai at risk.
The FCDO told holidaymakers: “Ongoing hostilities between Israel and Lebanon could escalate quickly and pose risks for the wider region.
“Monitor this travel advice and other media as the situation is changing fast. Follow and contact FCDO travel on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
“You can also get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.”
British tourists are also encouraged to consult the FCDO’s advice on those who are affected by the crisis abroad.
This includes information on how the FCDO defines a crisis, who and how they can, as well as what holidaymakers should do in a crisis, how to prepare for a potential crisis, support in the UK and terrorist attacks abroad.
Tourists have also been advised to read the FCDO’s up-to-date information before either trip, including the latest warnings and insurance, entry requirements, safety and security, health and getting help.
Indeed, the FCDO issued a warning against all travel to Lebanon on September 20, warning all travellers to leave “while commercial options remain available”. They warned that travellers’ travel insurance could be invalidated if they travel against advice from the FCDO.
It read: “The British embassy may be increasingly limited in the assistance that it can provide. If you are currently in Lebanon, you should leave now”.
The UAE is a well-visited holiday destination with Dubai being its most popular city. In 2023, the city welcomed 17.15 million international visitors, a 19 percent increase from the previous year, making it the third most-visited city in the world, according to Emirates NBD.
Due to its desert climate, it is hot all year round, with mild temperatures of 14 to 27C in winter and temperatures as high as 45C in the summer.
The UAE Government’s official website says: “The UAE has many glitzy shopping malls as well as traditional markets. Take advantage of the several shopping festivals running around the year. You can buy apparel, accessories, gold, electronics, carpets, spices, dry fruits and much more.
“The UAE has many restaurants and cafés, some amongst the finest in the world. It organises many food festivals, which bring cuisines from around the world and are popular amongst citizens and residents.”
Holidaymakers in Egypt, Tunisia, Oman, Kuwait and Qatar, among others, have also been issued warnings about the nearby conflict affecting Lebanon. For guidance. British tourists should consult the FCDO’s Safety and Security page for their chosen destination.
On October 1 Iran launched more than 180 ballistic missiles at Israel in a large-scale attack that has further heightened fears of an all-out regional war. Millions of people rushed to shelters before explosions lit up the skies above Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Iranian state TV said these included hypersonic weapons, while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the strikes were in retaliation for the killings of the leaders of its allies Hezbollah and Hamas.
Israel‘s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Iran had made a “big mistake” and “will pay for it”.